"You're still awake?"
Nan Yu kicked off her shoes and casually asked Tan Linyuan.
It was obvious that Tan Linyuan had just returned not long ago. He was dressed in a woolen sweater and black casual pants, with a slight look of fatigue between his eyebrows.
"I just got in a short while ago." He rubbed his temples. "I'll arrange a driver for you tomorrow. He'll be at your beck and call."
Nan Yu waved her hand in refusal. "There's no need to go to so much trouble."
Sometimes when inspiration struck, she didn't know how late she'd stay up. Then the driver would have to keep her company.
Tan Linyuan shot her a glance. His calm tone was laced with sarcasm. "Afraid the driver will tip me off?"
It was obvious that he was in a bad mood today. His words were full of barbs.
"I'm not doing anything wrong. What do I have to be afraid of?" Nan Yu took off her windbreaker and casually hung it on the hanger.
She had mentioned to Tan Linyuan that she had been busy with the music album recently, but he hadn't offered any comments.
So when he asked this, Nan Yu thought he was just making small talk and deliberately picking a fight.
After a tiring night, all she wanted to do now was take a shower and go to bed.
When she came out of the bathroom after taking a shower and drying her hair, Tan Linyuan was still on the sofa.
He was still in the same position as before, except that he had leaned back and closed his eyes, as if dozing.
Nan Yu called out to him. "Tan Linyuan?"
The man on the sofa didn't move.
"Uncle Tan?"
Seeing that he didn't respond, she walked over and leaned closer to him, reaching out to touch his forehead.
His temperature was normal. He wasn't running a fever.
Nan Yu didn't even realize that she let out a sigh of relief in her heart.
She withdrew her hand and was just about to turn around when the man grabbed her wrist from behind.
His hand pressed right on the Buddhist beads, making her let out a soft cry. She leaned back and landed on his lap.
Tan Linyuan wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her body tightly into his embrace.
"Don't move."
The man's deep and tired voice came from behind her ear. Nan Yu really didn't move and just let him hold her.
His chin rested on her shoulder, and his heavy breaths blew against her earlobe, bringing a wave of heat.
Nan Yu turned her head blankly, and he took the opportunity to give her a light kiss on the lips.
It was just a fleeting kiss, not meant to be deep.
"I'm tired." He loosened his arms around her and patted her leg. "Go back to your room and sleep."
Nan Yu obediently got up.
She could sense that Tan Linyuan was in a very dejected mood today, as if something had happened to him.
Nan Yu didn't ask.
She was afraid that he would avoid the topic as he had done before.
In the dark room, as soon as Nan Yu lay down, Tan Linyuan reached out and pulled her into his arms.
There was only a thin pajamas separating them, and their body heat was transferred to each other.
Tan Linyuan didn't make any further moves. It seemed that he just wanted to hold her and sleep.
Just as Nan Yu was still speculating, even breathing sounds came from behind her.
Deep and extremely tired.
Being held by him like this, Nan Yu's body gradually warmed up, and she felt drowsy in a daze.
Before she fell asleep, she was still thinking that Tan Linyuan's abnormal behavior must mean that he had encountered something troublesome.
But she had no way of knowing the answer unless he wanted to tell her.
---
Today was the tenth anniversary of Mr. Tan's death and also the anniversary of Tan Linyuan's elder brother's passing.
After the entire Tan family came back from the memorial ceremony early in the morning, they planned to have a meal together.
As the head of the Tan family, Tan Linyuan naturally had to attend and handle all the affairs.
He had even booked the restaurant for the family dinner. He was truly thorough and considerate.
Although the Tan family had experienced a lot of unpleasantness because of Tan Linyuan back then, it was in a complete mess like a tangled ball of yarn.
But it was also because of Tan Linyuan that the Tan family was able to regain control of the situation when it was in chaos, allowing the family to live in peace now.
As the old saying goes: A family doesn't speak to each other like outsiders. Those past events had long faded with time, and the family had gradually become harmonious.
Or rather, it was just a superficial harmony.
After everyone was seated, the dishes were almost served.
Mr. Tan had two sons. The eldest son was Tan Linyuan's father, and the second son was his uncle, Tan Jinxian.
Mr. Tan passed away suddenly, and Tan Linyuan's father suffered a great blow and had a mental breakdown. He had been receiving treatment in the hospital for many years.
It should have been Tan Jinxian's job to take over the Tan family, but his methods were not as comprehensive as his elder brother's, nor as ruthless as Tan Linyuan's. So he had to step back.
Now he held the shares of the Tan family and lived a leisurely life. Being addressed as "uncle" by Tan Linyuan, his days were quite comfortable and superior.
"Linyuan has become even more outstanding in the past two years." Tan Jinxian said with a smile, openly praising Tan Linyuan. "With the whole family getting together, we can't do without this great Buddha in our family worrying about everything."
Tan Linyuan was sitting in the main seat, slightly leaning to one side. His tone was calm. "Uncle, you're being too polite. Have some food."
Tan Jinxian picked up his wine glass. His tone was full of insinuation. "However, you're almost thirty. It's time to think about getting married."
Although Tan Linyuan handled all the affairs of the family, when it came to family matters behind closed doors, Tan Jinxian's status as an elder still counted.
Tan Siqi had passed away early, and most of the younger generation in the family had grown up under Tan Jinxian's watch. He considered himself to be half a father to Tan Linyuan.
"I heard that you've been getting along quite well with the daughter of the Qu family recently. Hurry up and find some time to finalize the marriage."
Tan Linyuan's expression remained unchanged. "It's nothing definite yet, uncle. You're just joking."
Moreover, his private affairs were none of other people's business.
"Alright, alright, alright. You young people aren't in a hurry." Tan Jinxian said with a hearty laugh. "If you're not in a hurry, is your father not in a hurry either?"
Tan Linyuan's father, Tan Siqi, was rarely mentioned at the Tan family's dinners.
Back then, Tan Siqi had impulsively stabbed Tan Linyuan with a knife. Watching his son fall in a pool of blood, the double blow had tortured his mind so much that he had become half-crazy.
At first, for the sake of the family's reputation, the Tan family had let Tan Siqi recuperate at home. But his condition had worsened, and there were fewer and fewer moments of clarity. His actions of hurting others and himself had become more and more frequent.
In desperation, they had no choice but to send him to a mental hospital.
In the early years, Tan Siqi still had moments of normalcy and could calmly chat with Tan Linyuan. But as he got older, not only had his health deteriorated, but his mental state had also become more and more unstable.
The last time Tan Linyuan had gone to visit him, he had been roared at and called a heartless brute and the murderer of his wife and son.
The doctor had also gently suggested that in order to keep the patient stable, they should try to avoid contact with people and things that would stimulate him.
After that, Tan Linyuan had never visited him again.
And today, Tan Jinxian had brought up Tan Siqi at the dinner again. "You haven't been to see your father recently, have you?"
"No." Tan Linyuan's answer was brief and polite. There was not a hint of impatience in his voice.
Only the coldness in his eyes and the sudden chill on his face indicated that he didn't want to continue this topic.
Tan Jinxian's gaze fell on his nephew, who was as elegant as the gentle breeze and bright moon. His tone was full of meaning. "It's time you went to see him."